Air balanced exhaust poppet valve with bias closure

Abstract

An improved poppet valve system, preferably for use with a paintball marker. The poppet valve system includes a chamber having an inner surface and a piston having a first end and a second end substantially opposite the first end. The first end is positioned for selective contact by a hammer. The piston also includes first and second sealing faces that sealingly engage the inner surface of the chamber when the hammer is not in contact with the piston. A biasing member acts against the second end of the piston. When the hammer contacts the first end of the piston, the hammer overcomes force imparted by the biasing member against the piston in order to disengage the first sealing face from the inner surface of the chamber.

1 . A poppet valve system for use with a paintball marker, comprising: 
 a chamber having an inner surface;    a piston having first and second sealing surfaces, the piston having a first end positioned for selective contact by a movable mass and a second end substantially opposite the first end, the first and second sealing surfaces being in contact with the inner surface of the chamber when the movable mass is not in contact with the piston; and    a biasing member acting against the second end of the piston,    wherein, when the movable mass contacts the first end of the piston, the movable mass overcomes force imparted by the biasing member against the piston in order to disengage the first sealing surface from the inner surface of the chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The poppet valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member comprises a mechanical spring.  
     
     
         3 . The poppet valve system of  claim 2 , wherein the mechanical spring is a coil spring.  
     
     
         4 . The poppet valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member comprises an air spring.  
     
     
         5 . The poppet valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the movable mass comprises a hammer for selectively striking the first end of the piston.  
     
     
         6 . The poppet valve system of  claim 1 , wherein a cup seal is used to create the first sealing surface.  
     
     
         7 . A poppet valve system for a paintball gun, comprising: 
 a chamber having an inner surface; and    a piston having first and second sealing surfaces, the piston having a first end positioned for selective contact by a movable mass and a second end substantially opposite the first end, the first and second sealing surfaces being in contact with the inner surface of the chamber when the movable mass is not in contact with the piston,    wherein, when the movable mass contacts the first end of the piston, the movable mass acts against the piston in order to disengage the first sealing surface from the inner surface of the chamber.    
     
     
         8 . The poppet valve system of  claim 7 , further comprising a secondary gas port for permitting released gas to act against the movable mass to bias the movable mass away from the piston.  
     
     
         9 . The poppet valve system of  claim 7 , wherein a spring is used to selectively bias the hammer towards the piston.  
     
     
         10 . The poppet valve system of  claim 7 , wherein the movable mass comprises a hammer.